Water Resources chapter in report on "Arab Environment: Future Challenges

The Arab Forum for Environment and Development published its report on "Arab Environment: Future Challenges" at the end of 2008 (The full report may be downloaded here: http://www.afedonline.org/afedreport/). 

The report contains a chapter on Water Resources written by Dr. Musa Nimah. The water resources chapter provides information on the present availability of fresh water in the Arab world and  discusses predicted future water demands in selected Arab countries by section. 

The chapter concludes by offering the following recommendations:

1. Optimization of water allocation among the three domains (agricultural, industrial, domestic).

2. Implementation of an optimal water productivity strategy that leads to the import of water through virtual water.

3. Holistic and integrated approach to water resources supply and demand planning and management.

4. Capacity building and technical upgrading of all stakeholders.

5. Awareness raising at levels, from end users to decision makers.

6. Issuing and implementing of sustainable water policies based on the above points, current and prospective water data and research.

7.  Development of water resources management models that will be able to unfold many solution scenarios to select the optimal approach.

No doubt many of those principles and recommendations are not new to those of us working on water resources issues in the MENA region. It would have been very interesting if the report had included an analysis of the policies or projects that have been implemented in the region to address some of those recommendations.

It would be great to hear from the MENA Water community on their experiences with projects or programs that are related to some of these recommendations. For example, has the concept of virtual water been used in the MENA region?  If so, what has been the result?  What have been some of the outcomes from the many awareness raising, capacity building and technical training programs? etc.